The Power of the PEN
We’ve all heard the old adage, “The pen is mightier than the sword.” Today, however, it seems a bit outdated. With instantaneous news feeds and social media tweets, posts, and shares bombarding us 24/7, the pen seems to have gone the way of the telegram, processed film, and the 8-track. “No one writes anymore,” people decry.
But what they really mean is everything’s digital. Although the traditional medium is losing its once esteemed dominance, written communication, whether it’s a two-line tweet, a five-paragraph blog, or a page-long, self-indulging Facebook post, is as powerful as ever. And constantly evolving. Who knows, pen and paper might make a comeback . . . printed texts and Moleskin journals are enjoying a resurgence in popularity.
And not everyone has forgotten the wonders of a page-turning, "I can’t put it down" book.
Reading a story written by Mrs. Jeon at a PEN meeting
I recently attended a meeting of PEN Korea, the Korean branch of PEN International, the writers’ organization founded in London in 1921. My good friend, Jeon Kyun-ae, a well-known Korean writer, had invited me to join her for an afternoon with Korean “poets, essayists, and novelists” (PEN). Today the acronym includes playwrights and editors.
While Mrs Jeon introduced me to her eclectic mix of writer friends from throughout Seoul and Korea, I met Sohn Hae-il, the president of PEN Korea, director of the Korean Writers’ Association, and accomplished poet. Like his colleagues, he’s passionate about literature. “Literature is food for the soul and a mirror of the world,” he said. Adding, “It has a cathartic effect on our hearts.”
Towards the end of meeting, I was asked to make a few remarks. I thanked the participants for their hospitality, and echoing the words of PEN’s founder, British poet and playwright, Catharine Amy Dawson-Scott, I reminded everyone that despite our cultural and political differences, we all believe in freedom of expression, peace, and friendship. Writing makes all this possible.
I’ll keep on posting and blogging, but there’s nothing like sitting at the keyboard for hours, lost in a creative reverie (yes, sometimes it’s a nightmare), plugging away at my book. I love to write - sometimes even with a pen!
To Mrs. Jeon and Mr. Sohn, thank you for your friendship and support. Keep up the good work and keep writing.
Carpe Diem.
Top picture: Ned with PEN friends
Photos courtesy of Ned Forney
It was a really memorable day for the Korean writers
to have a chance to meet Prof. Ned Forney, a history as well as a writer.
About 350 Korean writers of International PEN Korean Center participated
in this ceremony in Seoul to strengthen our friendship among Korean writers
all around the world!
Especially Prof. Ned Forney, our special guest, made the ceremony
more pleasant and most valuable!
Many Korean well-known writers of Intl PEN Korean Center,
who were Korean War Veterans came to
him to greet him, took his hands and tried to share
precious memories with him with tearful eyes.
Prof. Ned Forney is an honorable peace-lover who is
writing for the peace and prosperity for Korea and for the world!
On this day, he and I read several sentences expressing peace and humanity
in my novel ‘The Last Ship Out of Hung-Nam Harbor”.
It is a story on ‘Hung-Nam Evecuation and Meredith Victory, the last ship
which escaped Hung-Nam Harbor rescuing 14,000 Korean refugees.’
In this novel, Col. Forney and his close friend Dr. Hyun Bong-hak tries very hard
to persuade Gen. Almond for the rescue of 100,000 Korean refugees.
Gen. Almond finally was move by the appeal of Dr. Hyun Bong-Hak and Col. Forney
and evecuated the 100,000 Korean refugees to south aboard the US ships.
-From ‘The Last Ship Out of Hung-Nam Harbor’-
[…The 10th Division, led by Gen. Almond kept sending wires to Japan and Pusan, requestion help for the refugees. Finally, with the help of several people including Hyun Bong-Hak and Col. Forney, LSTs and some transport ships arrived, and the refugees began boarding. The reverberations from Chinese gunfire were rapidly coming closer.
The LST and the transport ships were packed with refugees. They were everywhere: on top of the trucks and tanks, in the holds, and at the very tops of the masts…]
Actually, the 100,000 Korean refugees are Christians,
or civilians who helped U.N. soldiers in the north in 1950.
The Koean writers who participated in this PEN ceremony
vividly remember Prof. Ned Forney, welcomed him
and had a precious time with him.
Dr. Sohn Hae-il, poet, President of International PEN Korean center
and we welcome Prof. Ned Forney with all hearts and hope to see
his new ‘BOOK OF PEACE’ to be completed soon!
Thank you so much!!
Jeon Kyung-Ae, Novelist, Vice-President of Intl. PEN, Korean Center.
2017. 8. 18, Seoul Korea.
Thank you for your kind words, support and friendship, Ms. Jeon. It was an honor to be part of a PEN Korea meeting, and I look forward to seeing you soon.